The two most original houses in Hancock Park—the “Snow White house” at 201 S. Larchmont Boulevard and the “House of Davids” at 304 S. Muirfield Rd., which Marlborough students and faculty frequently pass on the way to Larchmont village or heading home—are now in escrow, meaning the previous owners have sold the houses but the new owners have not yet moved in.
Wanting to leave a legacy of who she was on her property, Adriana Caselotti, the actual woman who provided the voice for Snow White in the original 1937 Disney movie,
Neighbors speculate that the reason the historical house is suddenly being sold is because the son is in need of money. Those who grew up in the area reminisce about how back in the day Caselotti used to dress up as Snow White and sing for the kids in the neighborhood
“I remember [when I was] a little girl Adriana would come out dressed as Snow White and I would come to her house to hear the voice I heard in the movie. It was truly magical,” neighbor Raquel Deraine said.
Although the Snow White house brought up special memories from Caselotti’s former neighbors, the people living near the House of Davids felt quite differently about their local landmark. When talking about the decoration on the House of Davids, the neighbors all mentioned how much they detested the layout and idiosyncrasy of the house.
And while neighbors of the Snow White house said they are sad to see the house pass to another owner, the neighbors of the House of Davids down the street are enthusiastic about the less eccentric new owner.
Before, the 12 naked statues replicating Michaelangelo’s David caught the eyes of everyone in the neighborhood. And if that wasn’t enough, the previous owner had a collection of cars in odd colors.
Now, all you will find at the House of Davids is an empty front yard, since the new owner has removed the statues. Most neighbors said they are overjoyed the statues are being taken down and the massive gate torn apart since they felt that the house was an eyesore and drove the market price of houses in the neighborhood down.
Neighbors complained not only about the house but about the owner himself, producer Norwood Young. According to neighbor Patrick Ryan, Young would throw wild parties until two or three in the morning, and a constant trail of tourists would come to take pictures at random times of the day.
“I am grateful that there is a new owner,” Ryan said.
Students living in the area also agree that the house was very ugly, but Hancock Park resident Taylor Phillips ’12 said she is sad to see Young’s annual Christmas decorations discontinued.
“[That house] doesn’t really fit in the neighborhood, but it was funny. I’m going to miss the hilarious Christmas decorations he puts up,” Phillips said.